THE FARM INDUSTRY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 569, 26 July 1909, Page 10

THE FARM INDUSTRY.

DRAUGHT HORSE BREEDING. ■'. i AN EXPERT'S'ADVICE. .' In New Zealand Micro scorns to oxist a permanent good 'demand .for '- high-quality draught horses. Of : late years certain districts—such as Ashburtim in tho south and Unworn in t'hc north —have specialised in tho draught' horse- brooding, arid a sort of local pride lias grown up in the good quality of '■ istufr turned out. Ilnwo-ra breeders paid high prices for southe-ni draughts when they lirst begun' to introduce ' tlio industry to their district, and there • arc.- instances in Now Zealand of prices as high as £300 being paid for a draught maro lamed for throwing good progeny. But even at what would bo considered moderate prices to-day draught horse, breeding pays if intelligently conducted. An export at the work,, in an articjo in "Dalgot.y's Review" this month, gives somo good'advice and-timely warnings in regard to-tlio subject. "One of the greatest . fallacies observable, in Australia," bo says; "is tlio attempt to correct delects by resorting to extremes, or, in other words, enforcing tlio idea that tho mating of two animals, .each having 'opposite .delects, will ■result in progeny with the happy medium. Olio often sees a Hat foot overlooked in a stallion because tlio niaro inay bo . a bit straight at tho ground; but imperfection of. conformation, constitution, or temper cannot bo so corrected. It must bo very gradually improved by careful attention' to .tlip % selection, of partners'.possessing perfect organisation to-'opposo- defects.. Reccntly-ae-qiiired qualities arc .ephemeral; they arc transmitted with difficulty, and destroyed by slight. opposing causes.-.' Peculiarities of form, sine, colour, and constitution, with qualities, vices, , 'and .defects of., all kinds descend from ....... •. Tlio tendency to accumulate fat in early lifo slioiikl bo tlio last-thing to strive.for in an animal whoso destiny is work or the' procreation of'useful'descendants, as 'early .maturity inAyoung horses .is simply an evidence- of' ov.o'r-feeding, whereby predispoeition to disease, debility of constitution, and promature decay ore - engendered. ... • In' Australia a colt' is a stallion.'when lie should be only a colt, and by the time'he'should bo a stallion he Jias departed this ■life.". . This he attributesto the .■practice: of 'preparing ':threo-' year-old colte for the; show in a state of ex- , - ccssivo blubber.-

Colts B'houki not bo used for service till .five years of ago, and should then bo. kept in good condition, but not 'fat; ;''A soft' lymphatic temperament docs" not .conduce to good' rosults in breeding. In., brood _mares,-, oxcossivo leanness implies'. irritability of tempei'S poverty, '■•■. or the .existence of some disease, '/andVprejudicially; .influences the -nutrition of the foetus ;or..the subsequent secre-. tipn of milk;. Excessive fatness, on-thoother hand, predisposes to.:abortion,, 'and■ difficult .lal>oUTs. The ; Jeaiieorts. are, generally found in.■ mares that;,have been \ worked up to 10 .to 12' years liii. towns; they, are seldom sure brooders, and never. good- ones. They . ..'are. ■prono.to sterility '/and difficulties, of labour .owing to tho various ■ straine they_ inay have received, during an arduous lifetime. v_ Old '"mares in heavy work are liable to give- .a. 'milk deficient in nutriment, and thus cause i'tlio foal to waste. 'Th-e'showyard marc,- owing to high.condition,;is also liablo/to bo sterile, or experience difficult 'labour/ ; ,-.or yield offspring of' poor ■ constitution. : Often the injury is done young by overfeeding,.and they remain sterile for the rest, of their lives.. Moderate .work and.plain living are ■ good, parts of' a bi-eeding system. ,